Summary: The Stranger

[ NOTE: These book summaries are designed as captures for what I’ve read, and aren’t necessarily great standalone resources for those who have not read the book. Their purpose is to ensure that I capture what I learn from any given text, so as to avoid realizing years later that I have no idea what it was about or how I benefited from it. ]

The protagonist seemed very detached to me, like he had autism

The most profound thing to me was how he realized in prison that humans instantly stop appreciating what we have that is good, and come to worship what we don’t have

He touched on the powerful tool of being thankful for the things he did have, even by playing tricks like convincing himself he didn’t have them so he could be happy when he did.

I saw the end as him doing the same. I think he basically trained himself to be able to look at the worst thing possible in life, and to say THAT is the thing you desire, and then be happy no matter what.

It seemed to be an exercise in controlling one’s happiness through expectation management given the fact that the world is likely to constantly disappoint.